In a monumental stride forward, Chinese scientists have achieved a groundbreaking leap in additive manufacturing by successfully utilizing micro-nano 3D printing technology to fabricate intricate items. This breakthrough marks a new era in precision and capabilities for 3D printing, allowing the production of highly detailed and complex structures at microscopic scales.
Revolutionizing Multiple Fields
This cutting-edge micro-nano 3D printing technology is poised to revolutionize the landscapes of electronics, biomedicine, and materials science. It opens doors for the manufacturing of intricate structures with potential applications in organ-on-a-chip research, as well as the development of flexible thermoelectric devices for power generation and refrigeration. To showcase the high precision of this innovative printing process, researchers have successfully manufactured items such as a dragon, the Bird’s Nest (China’s National Stadium), the Red Boat, and the Yellow Crane Tower.
A Leapfrog in Additive Manufacturing
The emerging field of nanoscience and technology, highly valued in China, is witnessing a significant leapfrog with the development of micro-nano 3D printing technology. By manipulating materials at the nano-scale, scientists can now create objects with unprecedented accuracy and complexity, expanding the horizons for additive manufacturing and promising further innovation and research in the future.
Building Human Organs on a Chip with Micro-Nano Robots
Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have taken this technology to new heights by developing a multi-stage delivery strategy of magnetically controlled micro-nano robots. Utilizing a human organs on a chip (OOC) model, they have successfully constructed a hierarchical vascularized OOC that accurately replicates the structure and function of different organs in the human body. With the aid of micro-nano 3D printing technology, these scientists can infuse magnetically guided micro-nano robots into these OOCs and navigate them inside blood vessels using an external magnetic field.
Applications Beyond Imagination
The applications of these vitro models are vast, including facilitating drug screening, reducing the cost of drug research, and enhancing the efficiency of drug development. Moreover, these micro-nano robots could play a crucial role in medical treatment, such as building a vitro OOC for a tumor patient. This could serve as a substitute for the patient to try different drugs and guide clinical medication, showcasing the potential of micro-nano 3D printing in the realm of personalized medicine.
